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Port City's Temple of Israel membership expands

Rabbi Paul Sidlofsky photographs a cake his congregation got him on the occasion of his 25th ordination anniversary in June. Photo by Amanda Greene/WilmingtonFAVS.com

By Amanda GreeneWilmington Faith & Values

Published: Monday, July 1, 2013 at 9:49 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, July 1, 2013 at 9:49 p.m.

This is a corrected version of the story. In the original, an incorrect sponsor was given for October's Wilmington Jewish Film Festival, which is sponsored by Wilmington United Jewish Appeal.

Only a handful of pews weren't filled shoulder-to-shoulder on a recent Friday night at Temple of Israel in downtown Wilmington.

That's been the increasing reality at the state's oldest Jewish house of worship over the past year as the congregation has seen historic growth. The Reform congregation has grown to more than 200 families for the first time since it was founded in 1876.

Gesturing to the congregation, cantor Charlotte Rosenberg spoke of the influence the leadership of Rabbi Paul Sidlofsky has had on the congregation. In 2010, the congregation counted 148 households. Sidlofsky delivered his first sermon at the temple on July 8, 2011.

"This rabbi has brought a warmth and spirituality that this congregation sorely needed," she said. "I mean, look at you. Look at how many of you there are! And you guys sing. Who knew?"

That Friday was the shabbat celebrating the rabbi's 25th ordination anniversary.

Historically, Wilmington has had the largest Jewish population in eastern North Carolina. According to "A Coat of Many Colors" by University of North Carolina Wilmington professor Walt Conser, in 1878 there were 200 Jewish individuals living in the city. By 1937, that number rose to 315. About 20.7 percent of the nation's Jewish population now lives in the South, according to the most recent 2012 statistics in the North American Jewish Data Bank.

"I've looked long and hard into this question, and not only has the Temple of Israel never had 200 families, I don't think any Jewish congregation in Wilmington has ever had 200 families," said local historian and temple member Beverly Tetterton. "My insight is that Wilmington is growing, and Jews are moving here, and they like Rabbi Paul. So do I."

Wilmington is also home to a conservative congregation, B'nai Israel Synagogue, and the Hasidic Orthodox Chabad of Wilmington.

Temple of Israel is seeing more Jewish retirees and younger families moving into the area. Its school has seen a more than 15 percent growth in the last three years, said temple religious school director Sherry Grooms. At a recent end of term religious school picnic, students and their families stretched between two pavilions at Empie Park.

Part of Sidlofsky's objectives when he was hired two years ago was to grow the congregation and its outreach into the community with such things as Invite Your Neighbor Shabbats, a new choir and lectures about topics within Judaism. Temple of Israel was also a stop on the N.C. Azalea Festival Historic Home Tour this year.

"It is through meeting that community is formed and grown," Sidlofsky said. "Each of us needs to be an ambassador of the temple. Growth leads to growth, but it's more than numbers."

Longtime member JoAnn Fogler attributes the temple's growth to the rabbi's innovation, but also to the little things the community offers.

"We are a very, I'll say, caring community, and if they come to visit, we try to welcome them and speak to them and carry through and put them on committees," Fogler said.

Sidlofsky said he was glad that the congregation was listening when he said he wanted to "be the spark and not the flame" of Temple of Israel's growth.

"Two years here with this congregation is a small drop in the bucket. We're just getting started," he told the congregation. "I give thanks to God and to all of you. My strength and inspiration comes from all of you."

<p class="bold allcaps">This is a corrected version of the story. In the original, an incorrect sponsor was given for October's Wilmington Jewish Film Festival, which is sponsored by Wilmington United Jewish Appeal.</p>
<p>Only a handful of pews weren't filled shoulder-to-shoulder on a recent Friday night at Temple of Israel in downtown Wilmington.</p><p>That's been the increasing reality at the state's oldest Jewish house of worship over the past year as the congregation has seen historic growth. The Reform congregation has grown to more than 200 families for the first time since it was founded in 1876.</p><p>Gesturing to the congregation, cantor Charlotte Rosenberg spoke of the influence the leadership of Rabbi Paul Sidlofsky has had on the congregation. In 2010, the congregation counted 148 households. Sidlofsky delivered his first sermon at the temple on July 8, 2011. </p><p>"This rabbi has brought a warmth and spirituality that this congregation sorely needed," she said. "I mean, look at you. Look at how many of you there are! And you guys sing. Who knew?" </p><p>That Friday was the shabbat celebrating the rabbi's 25th ordination anniversary.</p><p>Historically, Wilmington has had the largest Jewish population in eastern North Carolina. According to "A Coat of Many Colors" by University of North Carolina Wilmington professor Walt Conser, in 1878 there were 200 Jewish individuals living in the city. By 1937, that number rose to 315. About 20.7 percent of the nation's Jewish population now lives in the South, according to the most recent 2012 statistics in the North American Jewish Data Bank.</p><p>"I've looked long and hard into this question, and not only has the Temple of Israel never had 200 families, I don't think any Jewish congregation in Wilmington has ever had 200 families," said local historian and temple member Beverly Tetterton. "My insight is that Wilmington is growing, and Jews are moving here, and they like Rabbi Paul. So do I." </p><p>Wilmington is also home to a conservative congregation, B'nai Israel Synagogue, and the Hasidic Orthodox Chabad of Wilmington.</p><p>Temple of Israel is seeing more Jewish retirees and younger families moving into the area. Its school has seen a more than 15 percent growth in the last three years, said temple religious school director Sherry Grooms. At a recent end of term religious school picnic, students and their families stretched between two pavilions at Empie Park.</p><p>Part of Sidlofsky's objectives when he was hired two years ago was to grow the congregation and its outreach into the community with such things as Invite Your Neighbor Shabbats, a new choir and lectures about topics within Judaism. Temple of Israel was also a stop on the N.C. <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/entertainment10"><b>Azalea Festival</b></a> Historic Home Tour this year.</p><p>"It is through meeting that community is formed and grown," Sidlofsky said. "Each of us needs to be an ambassador of the temple. Growth leads to growth, but it's more than numbers."</p><p>Longtime member JoAnn Fogler attributes the temple's growth to the rabbi's innovation, but also to the little things the community offers.</p><p>"We are a very, I'll say, caring community, and if they come to visit, we try to welcome them and speak to them and carry through and put them on committees," Fogler said.</p><p>Sidlofsky said he was glad that the congregation was listening when he said he wanted to "be the spark and not the flame" of Temple of Israel's growth.</p><p>"Two years here with this congregation is a small drop in the bucket. We're just getting started," he told the congregation. "I give thanks to God and to all of you. My strength and inspiration comes from all of you."</p><p><i>Contact <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9908"><b>Amanda Greene</b></a>, community manger for <a href=http://wilmingtonfavs.com/ target=_blank>Wilmington Faith & Values (WilmingtonFAVS.com)</a> at Amanda.Greene@ReligionNews.com.</i></p>